Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) Service Defaults in Windows 10

Manages and implements Volume Shadow Copies used for backup and other purposes. If this service is stopped, shadow copies will be unavailable for backup and the backup may fail. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

Default Settings

Startup type: Manual
Display name:Volume Shadow Copy
Service name:VSS
Service type:own
Error control:normal
Object:LocalSystem
Path:%SystemRoot%\system32\vssvc.exe
Registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VSS

Default Behavior

Volume Shadow Copy is a Win32 service. In Windows 10 it is starting only if the user, an application or another service starts it. When the Volume Shadow Copy service is started, it is running as LocalSystem in its own process of vssvc.exe. If Volume Shadow Copy fails to start, the failure details are being recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 10 will start up and notify the user that the VSS service has failed to start due to the error.

Dependencies

Volume Shadow Copy cannot be started under any conditions, if the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service is disabled.

Restore Default Startup Configuration of Volume Shadow Copy

Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Volume Shadow Copy depends are configured by default and function properly. See the list of dependencies above.

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. Copy the command below, paste it into the command window and press ENTER:

sc config VSS start= demand

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The VSS service is using the vssvc.exe file that is located in the C:\Windows\system32 directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 10 installation media.